, 1887-02-10


The second morning we put the
luggage In a dug-Out canoe, and
while some of the party padded up
the lake SIX miles the others walked,
all soon arriving at the home of
WapatOe John and his son Peter,
semi-civilized Indians Of the Catho-
ic faith. They have dozen good
log houses and out buildings, and
several hundred acres of the best
land at the lake. Their fields are
enclosed with fences, considerable
land Is cultivated, and their horses
and cattle giaze for miles around.
In fact, Wapato John and his family
are quite wealthy, and possess a
homestead of which the white man
may well envy them. They raise
grain, vegetables and fruits, includ-
ing peaches, which mature and are
of excellent flavor. We visited his
home and witnessed the Indian wo-
men tanning wild animal skins, and
making gloves and moccasins. Their
needle work will compare favOrably
with that of the average white wO.
Ilan, and In articles for wear they
make u perfect fit. They will sell or
trade everything they have alta bar
gain excepting the homestead, which
they say, nothing can induce them
to part with. In June, OF 1886, Judge
Navarro, of North Yakima, moved
with his wife and child on fine
tract of land on the south side Of the
lake, two miles below and opposite
a bachelor neighbor, are the only
white folks living at the lake, or,
i'm fact, within ten miles of it. The
lake at Johns ranch Is wider than
at any other place.
The third day we hire o. Jonn a
six cared boat, a relic of the govern
ment post, which flsO has mast,
and we embarked on our journey by
water. We todch shore ten miles
up the lake, ostensibly to pick rasp.
berries, bat really to rest our weariod
arms, for the day Is arm the boat
is heavy and pulls hard; however,
we do get a few berries, catch some
fish, eat dinner and are off again. A
pull of ten miles farther on the scin-
tillating surface of the crystal lake
brings us to Bear creek, where is an
Indian hunters deserted cabin, and
where two years before, the Nasty
of our party had killed bear. We
pitch the tent back of the cabin on Il
level, grassy bench. Here we camp
two nights. The trout are plentiful
i'm the little brook and delicious
when taken out of the frying pan.
One evening Nasty and the judge
go up amongst the trees on the
mountains back of camp and within
an hour come in bearing between
them, on Il pole, large fat deer,
consequently there WAS much rejoic-
ing i'm camp that night, and singing
andstory tellingwas entered intoWith
more than the usual jest.
Next morning we cure the veni-
son-.jerk it, in hunters parlance-
and store it away for future use. We
again enter the boat and move on up
the lake ten miles, the scenery grow
ing more beautiful and grander as
we proceed. Occasionally deer is
espied browsing on the mountain
side and IL fawn gamboling near the
mother, appearing to not regard DIS
as enemies. We peer into the depths
of the quiet lake and can see the bot
tom clearly mt II depth of fifty feet.
Our next camping place for the night
we call "Starvaton Camp" because
we seek i'm vain for game in the VI
cinity. Soon
/" - The glmmerine camptire's light,
Reminds us OF the coming night"
and we lie upon our fragrant ever
green beds and soon become oblivi-
Gus to all surroundings. But, hark!
What is this that awakens US? 1t is
the familiar song, "Home, Sweet
Home," that floats through the
placid night air. Away out on the
bosom of the lake are Mary and the
Ma ajor, charming us with those dear
words,
''It ceases, and the dying sound
Is echoed through the rocks around;
Fainter ard fainter, till the tones
Are lost amid the hills end stones"
The next morning we start in a
heavy sea against the wind, as usual
which renders the sail useless. The
rolling waves continue for two
hours, when there arises counter
breeze from the south, the sail fills
and we 60 smoothly onward without
eXertiOn, giving us ample time to
enjoy the scenery, which becomes
more attractive and more sublime as
we journey onward. There are
passed numerous small brooklets
rushing down the hillsides and leap
ing over the rocks, forming pretty
cascades. On the mountain peaks,
high above us, snow Is seen more
frequently. At noon we land at the
mouth of Olallie creek. in an invit-
ing and romantic spot. Levi, the
fisherman makes himself useful
cstching some fine brook and lake
trout, and the judge brings in hat
full of luscious black rasberries, while
the ladies prepare a wholesome din
ner. At three o'clock we start again
for our objective point, the upper
end of the lake, but the favorable
breeze we enjoyed awhile ago
has turned into head
wind, and the oarsmen bring
their muscles into active play once
more. For five miles, against a
wind gradually increasing in force,
which lashed the waters into foam
! ing billoWs, we toll Oh hugging close